Which of the following is NOT a criterion for identifying a phonological process in a sample of child speech?

• A. The error must simplify the target phoneme or word shape.
• B. The error must apply to a natural class of phonemes.
• C. The error must be phonemic or phonetic to be included.
• D. The error must be predictable even if it is not consistent.

Answer: (D)

Phonological processes are rule-governed patterns where a child consistently reduces or alters sounds to make speech easier, and these patterns tend to affect a natural class of sounds and the shape of the word. This regularity across many words is what makes them recognizable as processes rather than random errors.

The idea that a process must be predictable across contexts is central, because predictability signals a pattern in the child’s system. However, saying it must be predictable even if not consistent introduces a contradiction: if an error isn’t consistently observed, there isn’t a dependable pattern to identify as a process. True phonological processes show a stable tendency, even if occasional variations occur.

That helps explain why the other aspects fit: phonological processes simplify the target sound or the word shape, they typically apply to a natural class of phonemes (like all fricatives or all velars), and they reflect an underlying phonemic or phonetic change that can be described as a systematic pattern in the child’s speech.